A pro-democracy former district councillor has been asked by the government to repay HK$110,000 after his disqualification.
Tony Kwok Tin-lap, a former Kowloon City district councillor from the Democratic Party, was unseated on September 29 after his oath to pledge allegiance to the SAR government was declared invalid.
He was sent a letter by the Home Affairs Department requiring him to repay HK$110,000.
Authorities paid him HK$520,000 for his work expenses, but he was eligible for HK$410,000 only, he was told. It specified that he needed to return the outstanding amount as he has been disqualified.
The former councillor stated that the amount was used to pay for his office's rent and his secretary's wages, as well as printing work reports.
He said he will request to pay in installments and stated that he will apply for judicial review if there are no other alternatives.
The Home Affairs Department stated that it will handle the case in accordance to remuneration guidelines.
The guidelines stated that the government will only pay for district councillors' expenses when they are in office. A district councillor can receive around HK$550,000 a year to pay for office rent and secretary's wages.
He was sent a letter by the Home Affairs Department requiring him to repay HK$110,000.
Authorities paid him HK$520,000 for his work expenses, but he was eligible for HK$410,000 only, he was told. It specified that he needed to return the outstanding amount as he has been disqualified.
The former councillor stated that the amount was used to pay for his office's rent and his secretary's wages, as well as printing work reports.
He said he will request to pay in installments and stated that he will apply for judicial review if there are no other alternatives.
The Home Affairs Department stated that it will handle the case in accordance to remuneration guidelines.
The guidelines stated that the government will only pay for district councillors' expenses when they are in office. A district councillor can receive around HK$550,000 a year to pay for office rent and secretary's wages.